Napoli 2-1 Milan: Early Goals Secure Vital Win Despite Late Scare

Napoli secured a crucial 2-1 victory over AC Milan at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, holding on despite a late push from the visitors. Early goals from Matteo Politano and Romelu Lukaku were enough to see off a spirited second-half fightback by Milan, as Napoli maintained their push near the top of Serie A.

The game started with a bang, as Matteo Politano put Napoli ahead after just 62 seconds, marking the second-fastest goal in Napoli's home history during the three points-for-a-win era. Politano's clever run was met perfectly by Giovanni Di Lorenzo's pass, allowing the winger to finish clinically and give the hosts a dream start. Remarkably, this was only the second time Napoli scored within the first two minutes against Milan in Serie A, the last such goal coming from Piero Golin in March 1955.

Napoli quickly built on their early advantage, doubling the lead 17 minutes later. Billy Gilmour’s defense-splitting pass set up Romelu Lukaku, who slotted home his 400th career goal for club and country. It was a milestone moment for the Belgian striker, who continues to deliver key performances for his side this season.

Milan struggled to gain a foothold in the first half, but their fortunes changed with the introduction of Rafael Leao at halftime. The Portuguese winger immediately injected life into the Rossoneri attack, winning a penalty after combining with Theo Hernandez. However, Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret stood firm, denying the spot-kick and preserving his team's two-goal advantage.

Milan's persistence paid off in the closing stages when Hernandez's low cross was met by Luka Jovic in the six-yard box, reducing the deficit to 2-1 with six minutes remaining. Despite piling on the pressure, Milan couldn’t find an equalizer, as Napoli held on to secure all three points.

Interestingly, Milan outperformed Napoli in expected goals (xG), recording 2.69 to the hosts' 0.96, highlighting the chances they created in the second half. Nevertheless, Napoli's early efficiency proved decisive, with Antonio Conte's men sealing a hard-fought win.

This victory keeps Napoli in second place in the Serie A standings, with a crucial meeting against Bologna up next on April 7. Milan, on the other hand, remain in ninth place and will now turn their attention to a Coppa Italia clash against Inter on Wednesday, followed by a league encounter with Fiorentina on Saturday.

Final score: Napoli 2-1 Milan.